Welp, I finally have a moment to give a brief recap of Dark Lord Day.
Left from work on Friday; such an easy drive. Sucks it costs $20 per way in tolls, but whatever. We got-in on Friday night at about 9:30 CT to our hotel in Hammond, Indiana. The moment we got there, there was a banquet room open for DLD folks to share in. There were only about 20 folks or so at my hotel, but I got to try some real gems (vanilla abraxas, coffee abraxas, Trill, stuff from all over..). I only stayed up until about 12:30 or so because we wanted to wake-up early on Saturday to get handjee.
Saturday at 6 AM I get-up. My step-bro and I have a ride coming at 7 and we wanted to get a bite to eat before leaving. Ride got there 15 minutes late and took us on the most circuitous route possible, making our 7 mile ride a 30 minute ride. We got to walk-in to the bullpen at about 8; we passed hundreds of folks in the street, drinking-down their bags to the 72 ounce limit. My step-bro and I wiggled-up to near the front of the second entrance and that's where things started to get tasty. Everywhere I turn, there is someone ready to hit me with a pour of their open bottle/can. I opened up my beers and set it on this picnic table in the midst of it all just to give something back.
9 AM, the gate opens and it's like Pamplona. I succumbed to anxiety and made a dash for the handjee line. Ended up being about 40 back and got that sample out of the way early under a slight drizzle that would be the only rain all day. The handjee was fantastic; viscous, vanilla goodness. After that, we walked over to get ChemTrailMix and DAMN was that fucking good. People were trying to wait for the Cavaliero to tap, so they were just waiting for folks to walk to the front of the line for CTM so the keg would kick. Can't believe that...
We were Group B (11 AM to 1 PM). We went and got our bottles (step-bro my proxy) at about 11:30 AM & I got a Brozerker (port) and a Hung, Drawn, & Quartered (rye). After that, we hit the merch line and I got to taste some other guest taps, as well as Hung Drawn N Quartered on tap. The place was already a shit-show by the time I left at like 2 PM or so. Took a nap from 2:30 to 5:30, woke-up and went to BW3 to watch the Cavs and get a real meal. Drove home early Sunday in lieu of going to wait at More for the Henna Swirl release.
I'll probably go back. My step-bro probably won't. We behaved. Didn't pass-out, puke, or make an ass out of ourselves. To be honest, my stomach got pretty damn full from all of that stout (oh yes, I hit a porto-potty #2 style). Didn't stay for the metal concert.